Physiology of Digestion - Daley Health



DIGESTIVE HEALTH: PRINCIPLES OF DIGESTION

Why should we study about digestion?

The food we eat provides us with fuel to live; energy to work and play and provides raw materials to build new cells. Knowing and practicing principles that help digestion can prevent us from many digestive disorders like indigestion and heartburn.

1. Respect paid to the proper treatment of the stomach will be rewarded in clearness of thought and strength of mind.

2. Overeating --What influence does overeating have upon the stomach?

• It becomes debilitated, the digestive organs are weakened and disease, with all its train of evils, is brought on as a result.

• A load has been placed upon the stomach that it cannot care for and a feeling of oppression comes. The head is confused, the stomach is in rebellion.

• In some cases, the stomach is paralyzed. No sensation of pain is felt, but the digestive organs lose their vital force.

• Overeating, even of the simplest food, benumbs the sensitive nerves of the brain and weakens its vitality. Overeating has a worse effect upon the system than overworking.

3. Exercise is important to digestion, and to a healthy condition of body and mind. Exercise aids the dyspeptic by giving the digestive organs a healthy tone.

4. A short walk after a meal, with the head erect and the shoulders back, exercising moderately, is a great benefit.

5. Fresh Air --The influence of pure, fresh air is to cause the blood to circulate healthfully through the system. It excites the appetite, renders the digestion of food more perfect, and induces sound and sweet sleep.

6. Regularity in eating is of vital importance. There should be a specified time for each meal. At this time, let everyone eat what the system requires, and then take nothing more until the next meal.

7. Hot drinks are not required, except as a medicine. The stomach is greatly injured by a large quantity of hot food and hot drink. Thus, the throat and digestive organs, and through them the other organs of the body, are enfeebled.

8. Cold food & drinks -- If food is cold, the vital force of the stomach is drawn upon in order to warm it before digestion can take place. Cold drinks are injurious for the same reason; while the free use of hot drinks is debilitating.

9. Food should not be washed down. Taken with meals, water diminishes the flow of saliva; and the colder the water, the greater the injury to the stomach.

10. Take time to eat and do not crowd into the stomach a great variety of foods at one meal. To eat hurriedly of several kinds of food at a meal is a serious mistake.

• In order to secure healthy digestion, food should be eaten slowly. Those who wish to avoid dyspepsia, and those who realize their obligation to keep all their powers in a condition which will enable them to render the best service to God, will do well to remember this.

• The benefit derived from food does not depend so much on the quantity eaten as on its thorough digestion; nor the gratification of taste so much on the amount of food swallowed as on the length of time it remains in the mouth.

• Those who are excited, anxious, or in a hurry, would do well not to eat until they have found rest or relief; for the vital powers, already severely taxed, cannot supply the necessary digestive fluids.

• If we would work for the restoration of health, it is necessary to restrain the appetite, to eat slowly, and only a limited variety at one meal.

11. Bread should never have the slightest taint of sourness. It should be cooked until it is most thoroughly done.

12. Another serious evil is eating at improper times, as after violent or excessive exercise, when one is much exhausted or heated. Immediately after eating there is a strong draft upon the nervous energies; and when mind or body is heavily taxed just before or just after eating, digestion is hindered.

13. Stomach affects the brain --The stomach is closely related to the brain; and when the stomach is diseased, the nerve power is called from the brain to the aid of the weakened digestive organs. When these demands are too frequent, the brain becomes congested.

14. Food combination -- Knowledge in regard to proper food combinations is of great worth and is to be received as wisdom from God. Disturbance is created by improper combinations of food; fermentation sets in; the blood is contaminated, and the brain confused.

15. Food should be prepared with simplicity, yet with a nicety which will invite the appetite.

16. Fewer Variety three to four--Many are made sick by the indulgence of their appetite. . . . So many varieties are introduced into the stomach that fermentation is the result. This condition brings on acute disease and death frequently follows.

• Do not have too great a variety at a meal; three or four dishes are a plenty

• Many eat hurriedly of various kinds of food, which set up a war in the stomach, and thus confuse the brain.

17. The digestive organs have an important part to act in our life happiness. God has given us intelligence that we may learn what we should use as food. Shall we not, as sensible men and women, study whether the things we eat will be in agreement, or whether they will cause trouble? People who have a sour stomach are very often of a sour disposition. Everything seems to be contrary to them, and they are inclined to be peevish and irritable. If we would have peace among ourselves, we should give more thought than we do to having a peaceful stomach.

18. Too much sugar -- Far too much sugar is ordinarily used in food. Cakes, sweet puddings, pastries, jellies, jams, are active causes of indigestion. The free use of milk and sugar taken together should be avoided.

Remember, “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” “And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite.” 1 Corinthians 10:31; Proverbs 23:2

We can do all things through Christ who give us the strength. This include following these principles of digestion.

Compiled from EG White, Physiology of Digestion Chapters 5, 6, 7 in the book “Counsels on Diets and Food”. You can read it online at

By Pastor Leroy A. Daley (Email: iregw@)

FACEBOOK: NECHEALTHMINISTRIES

Youtube ‘Daley Health’

................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download